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American  Dramatists  Series 

PUPPETS  OF  FATE 


a  drama   in  four  acts 
and  a  prologue  by 


ALICE  ELIZABETH  LAVELLE 


BOSTON:  THE  GORHAM  PRESS 

THE  COPP  CLARK  CO.,  Limited,  TORONTO 


Copyright,  1914,  by  Alice  E.  Lavelle 


All  Rights  Reserved 


The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


Dedicated  to  those 
friends  who  ever  spoke 
loving  and  encouraging 
words     to     and     of — 

THE   AUTHOR 


372209 


PREFACE 

The  following  historical  drama  has  no  incident 
in  it  that  I  have  not  found  suggested  or  recorded 
by  one  authority  or  another.  When  I  found  writ- 
ers that  differed  I  took  the  better  corroborated 
story  or  that  which  seemed  to  me  more  likely  to  be 
authentic.  As  has  been  well  said,  "If  you  would 
have  the  story  of  Napoleon,  you  must  take  it  from 
the  lips  of  Frenchmen."  I  have  followed  this  sug- 
gestion and  read  many  French  authorities  before 
beginning  to  write,  and  it  is  because  I  have  taken 
the  word  of  Frenchmen  in  regard  to  their  hero 
that  I  paint  the  picture  of  Josephine  to  be  found  in 
this  book.  I  want  to  acknowledge  the  kindness  of 
Professor  Henry  Le  Daum,  Professor  of  French 
and  Spanish  in  the  University  of  North  Dakota, 
for  his  encouragement  and  directness  in  suggesting 
to  me  that  I  give  the  true  French  version  of  Jose- 
phine's character  and  the  philosophy  of  Napoleon 
as  applied  to  his  treatment  of  the  deposed  Empress 
of  the  French.  I  am  much  indebted  to  this  gentleman 
also  for  the  use  of  many  valuable  books,  without 
which  I  should  have  been  unable  to  get  such  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  subject  on  which  I  under- 
took to  write.  A.  E.  L. 


PROLOGUE 

Office  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  Interior, 
1797. 

ACT  I 

SCENE   I 

Josephine's  Drawing-room,  rue  Chatereine,  1797, 
four  weeks  after  her  marriage  to  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte who  has  just  been  made  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Army  of  Italy. 

SCENE   2 

Tent  scene  near  Piedmont,  Italy,  four  weeks 
after  Napoleon  s  marriage  to  Josephine.  Time  is 
identical  with  that  of  scene  I. 

ACT  II 

SCENE   I 

Tent  scene  in  Cairo,  Africa,  1789,  fourteen 
months  after  Napoleon  s  marriage  to  Josephine. 

SCENE   2 

Scene  in  Josephine's  drawing-room,  1798,  seven- 
teen months  after  her  marriage  and  immediately 
after  his  return  from  Africa  to  Paris. 


ACT  III 

Room  in  palace  at  Mantua,  Italy,  1 807. 
ACT  IV 

SCENE  I 
Room  in  Fontainebleau,   1809. 

SCENE  2 
Room  in  Fontainebleau,  one  day  later. 

ACTV 
Josephine's  boudoir  at  Malmaison  in  May  1 814. 


CHARACTERS 

Napoleon,  afterward  Emperor  of  France. 

Eugene.,  son  of  Josephine  by  her  first  husband, 
Viscount  de  Beauharnais. 

Lucien,   brother  of  Napoleon. 

Louis,  brother  of  Napoleon  and  husband  of 
Hortense,  step-daughter  to  Napoleon,  who  made 
this  couple  King  and  Queen  of  Holland  and  adopt- 
ed their  son,  Napoleon,  and  made  him  heir  to  the 
French  throne.     The  child  died,  however. 

Gen.  Murat,  afterward  married  to  Napoleon  s 
sister,  Caroline. 

Barras,  Head  of  the  Directory  at  Paris  when 
the  play  opens. 

Junot,  Aide-de-camp  to  Napoleon. 

Bourrienne,  Secretary  to  Napoleon. 

DuROC,  valued  personal  friend  of  Napoleon; 
killed  in  battle. 

Arnault,  the  Poet. 

Regnault  de  St.  Jean  d'Angely. 

Alexander  of  Russia,  one  of  the  kings  who 
combined  to  defeat  Napoleon. 

Marmont. 

Lavalette,  afterward  made  a  count  by  Na- 
poleon. 

Doctor  Corvisart,  Court  Physician. 

Gretry,  the  Composer. 

Fouche,  Minister  of  Police. 


Louisa,  confidante  of  Josephine  in  the  earlier 
years  of  her  life. 

Mme.  Murat,  Napoleon  s  sister  Caroline. 

Stephanie  de  Beauharnais,  relative  of  Jose- 
phine and  adopted  by  Napoleon. 

Hortense,  daughter  of  Josephine  by  her  first 
husband.  She  married  Louis  and  became  Queen  of 
Holland. 

Josephine,  a  widozv,  who  married  Napoleon  and 
became  Empress  of  France. 

Valets,  couriers,  lackeys,  pages  and  ladies-in-wait- 
ing. 


PUPPETS  OF  FATE 


PROLOGUE 

Scene — Inner  office  of  Gen.  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte, Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Interior,  1797* 
Door  R.  in  flat.  Banner  "Vive  la  Republique" 
with  large  maps  of  Europe  or  European  countries 
on  wall;  fire-place  with  conventional  mantle-piece ; 
stack  of  confiscated  arms;  desk  with  ink  bottle, 
papers,  books,  quills,  etc.;  common  table  with  chairs, 
R.,  book-case,  etc.  Discover  Lavalette  seated  at 
desk  writing. 

Enter  an  Orderly  with  letters  and  papers. 

Orderly  (handing  papers  to  Lavalette)  Good 
morning,  M.  Lavalette. 

Lavalette  (scrutinizing  letters  closely  and  in- 
dicating red  one — a  large  square  envelope)  Where 
did  this — Good  morning,  Ormonde — Where  did 
this  red  envelope  come  from? 

Orderly.     Don't  know,  sir. 

[Orderly  starts  out  but  meets  a  boy  at  the  door 
who  bumps  into  him,  upsetting  the  dignity  of  the 
orderly  greatly  J] 

Boy  (breathlessly)  Is  this  the  office  of  Gen. 
Bonaparte  ? 

Orderly.  Yes!  but  unless  you  are  some  rela- 
tive, you  are  in  the  wrong  place,  young  man !  This 
is  his  private  office ! 

II 


:;  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Boy  (seeing  Lavalette  whom  he  mistakes  for 
Bonaparte)  Oh!  (Rushes  over  to  desk  where  Lav- 
alette  continues  to  write.  Boy  caughs.  Lavalette 
looks  up  quickly  and  then  continues  to  write  ob- 
viously indifferent  to  the  presence  of  the  boy,  who 
then  caughs  again.  Lavalette  now  coughs  danger- 
ously.) 

Lavalette  (sternly)  Well,  boy,  what  is  it? 

Boy.     Gen.  Bonaparte,  I  am  the  son — 

Lavalette  (with  dignity)  I  am  not  Gen.  Bona- 
parte. 

Boy  (more  confidently)  Oh!  Where  is  Gen. 
Bonaparte  then?  Isn't  this  the  office  of  the  Com- 
mander of  the  Interior?     The  Orderly  said — 

Lavalette.  Yes,  it  is,  but  the  Commander  of 
the  Interior  has  something  to  do  besides  interview- 
ing boys.  In  fact,  I  am  right  here  to  keep  fools 
and  boys  at  a  distance! 

Boy.  Well  I  may  be  a  boy  but  I  am  no  fool  and 
I  am  going  to  see  him,  that's  all!  I'm  Gen.  Beau- 
harnais'  son  and  I  must  see  Gen.  Bonaparte. 

Lavalette  ( Writing)  You  might  as  well  get  out 
first  as  last.  He  is  busy.  He  has  an  appointment 
with  M.   Barras  of   the   Directory  at  this  time. 

[Enter  Napoleon  who  stands  just  inside  the  door 
taking  in  quietly  all  that  is  passing.] 

Boy.  But  I  tell  you  I  must  and  will  see  him. 
I  want  my  father's  sword  back!  My  father  was 
the  commander  of  the  French  Army  once. 

Lavalette.  I  tell  you  you  cannot  see  him, 
boy!  Your  demand  would  appear  ridiculous  in  his 
eyes.    What  does  he  care  for  your  father? 

Boy.  But  my  father  was  a  commander  as  he  is 
and  I  am  the  son  of  a  soldier  and  my  father  and 


PROLOGUE  13 

mother  always  told  me  to  keep  that  sword  and 
only  use  it  for  the  cause  of  right  and  justice,  for 
the  honor  of — 

Napoleon  {advancing)  Lavalette,  who  is  this 
boy?     (to  the  boy)    What  is  it? 

Lavalette  (taking  boy  by  the  arm)  I'll  show 
him  out. — 

Boy.  But  I  wont  go  out  until  I  get  it!  I  told 
my  mother  I  would  not  and  I  wont! 

Napoleon  (to  Lavalette)  Wait!  Force  is  very 
well  when  one  can  use  nothing  else,  but  when  one 
is  master,  justice  is  better.  My  boy,  what  is  it? 
Who  has  wronged  you  that  you  are  so  excited? 
I'll  attend  to  your  case  just  as  soon  as  I  see  if  there 
is  anything  of  importance  in  the  morning's  mail. 
(Picks  up  red  envelope  and  looks  at  it  curiously; 
then  opens  it  and  reads  aloud,  "You  shall  be 
King")  Strange!  Where  did  this  come  from, 
Lavalette  ? 

Lavalette.  I  don't  know;  I  cannot  find  out 
where  it  came  from. 

Napoleon.     Now,  what  is  it,  my  boy? 

Boy.  Are  you  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  In- 
terior ? 

Napoleon.     I  am. 

Boy.  Well,  you  sent  an  officer  to  my  house  and 
he  took  away  my  father's  sword  on  your  orders,  he 
said,  and  I  want  it  back.  My  father  was  Gen. 
Beauharnais,  and  his  last  words  almost  were  to  give 
that  very  sword  to  his  son — to  me — and  I  want  it! 
I  love  my  country  just  as  much  as  you  do,  and  so 
does  my  mother,  and  that  sword  will  never  be  used 
by  me  but  for  the  purpose  of  getting  for  my  moth- 
er her  rights  or  the  rights  of  my  father's  land,  and 


i4  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

I  want  it  back! 

Napoleon.  (Patting  him  on  the  shoulder) 
And  you  shall  have  it  back !  That  sword,  Lavalette ! 

Exit  Lavalette. 

Napoleon.  Your  mother  is  the  Vicountess  de 
Beauharnais,  who  so  narrowly  escaped  the  guillo- 
tine herself?  I  would  like  to  know  her.  She  has 
a  son  who  is  not  afraid  to  make  himself  heard,  and 
that  speaks  well  for  the  mother's  judgment  and 
character. 

Re-enter  Lavalette  who  hands  sword  to  Na- 
poleon. 

Napoleon.  My  son,  take  your  father's  sword 
to  your  mother  with  the  compliments  of  Gen.  Bona- 
parte. 

Boy.  (Showing  himself  to  be  much  affected  as 
he  kisses  the  sword)  Thank  you  greatly,  sir.  My 
mother  is  waiting  for  me  in  the  carriage;  she  will 
probably  come  in  and  thank  you  herself,  personally. 

Exit  the  boy. 

Napoleon.  Oh!  O — Yes;  I  would  be  pleased 
to  receive  her.  Lavalette,  somebody  just  called  you 
into  the  outer  office! 

Lavalette  (surprised)  What's  that,  General? 
Oh!    Oh,  yes! 

Exit  Lavalette. 

[Napoleon  seats  himself  pompously  at  desk,  ar- 
ranging himself  to  appear  imposingly^ 

Enter  Josephine. 

Josephine.  Gen.  Bonaparte.  (No  answer) 
Gen.  Bonaparte!  (When  he  looks  up  at  her)  I 
am  the  mother  of  the  boy  whom  you  have  just  made 
so  happy.  May  I  thank  you  personally  for  your 
great  kindness?     (No  answer)   to  the  widow  and 


PROLOGUE  15 

son  of  Beauharnais? 

Napoleon.  {Having  risen  accepts  her  hand) 
I  am  glad  to  be  of  service  to  you.  {Awkwardly) 
It  was  at  the  time  of  the  general  order  for  dis- 
armament of  the  sections  and  my  officers  were 
simply  complying  with  the  letter  of  the  law  in  vis- 
iting the  private  homes  and  confiscating  the  arms 
therein.  {Pauses  awkwardly)  I  was  much  affected 
by  the  frankness  and  fervor  your  boy  displayed  and, 
believe  me,  madame,  I  hesitated  not  a  moment  to 
grant  his  request. 

Josephine.  Oh,  sir,  your  generosity  fills  Paris 
with  contentment.  Indeed,  for  your  protection  of 
the  Convention,  you  are  regarded  as  the  Saviour  of 
the  country  by  some. 

Napoleon.  By  many  as  a  demon  who  has  de- 
luged the  capital  with  blood,  I  fear. 

Josephine.     Oh,  I  admit  it  seems  to  me  that  it 
is  only  with  regret  that  we  should  think  of  the  con 
sternation  you  have  spread  throughout  the  capital. 
To  me,  a  Royalist,  it  is  a  frightful  service  you  have 
performed. 

Napoleon.  It  is  very  possibly  so;  the  military 
are  only  automata  to  which  the  government  gives 
such  motions  as  it  pleases.  They  have  no  duty  but 
to  obey.  Besides,  I  wished  to  teach  the  Parisians 
a  little  lesson.  This  is  simply  my  seal  which  I  have 
set  upon  France! 

Josephine.     Oh,  indeed! 

Napoleon.  These  light  skirmishes  are  but  the 
coruscations  of  my  glory. 

Josephine.  If  you  are  to  acquire  glory  at  such 
a  price,  I  would  rather  count  you  among  the  vic- 
tims! 


1 6  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Napoleon.     {Surprised)     Indeed! 

Josephine.  My  husband,  remember,  was  guil- 
lotined ! 

Napoleon.  Yes;  I  remember.  I  regret  it, 
Madame. 

Enter  B arras. 

Napoleon.     Good  day,  M.  Barras. 

B  arras.  Good  day — {with  great  surprise) 
Mme.  Beauharnais!     This  is  a  surprise! 

Josephine  {embarassed)  Yes — yes — I  came 
with  Eugene  to  recover  the  sword  of  my  dead  hus- 
band. 

Barras.  Oh,  I  see!  {Maliciously)  But  where 
is  the  boy? 

Josephine.  In  the  carriage — outside — he  waits 
for  me! 

Napoleon.  I  see  you  are  friends  of  old  stand- 
ing, M.  Barras? 

Barras.  Oh,  we  are  more  than  friends.  Mme. 
Tallien  and  Mme.  de  Beauharnais  are  the  two  chief 
ornaments  of  my  seraglio;  in  fact,  Mme.  Tallien  is 
the  ex-sultana! 

Napoleon,     {shocked)    What! 

Barras.     Yes — 

Josephine.     Oh,  pray!     Barras!     What — ! 

Barras  {impudently  and  enjoying  the  conster- 
nation of  the  others)  Don't  take  me  too  seriously, 
Bonaparte!  I  will  call  again.  I  fear  I  have  inter- 
rupted a  mutually  agreeable  tete-a-tete. 

Josephine.     Not  at  all — 

Exit  Barras. 

Napoleon.  That  was  hardly  the  way  to  speak 
to  a  lady — a  lady  of  the  old  regime. 

Josephine.     Gen.  Bonaparte,  I  trust  you  will 


PROLOGUE  17 

believe  me,  his  words  were  stronger  than  his  mean- 
ing. 

Napoleon.  His  words  were  offensive  and  im- 
pertinent to  a  lady  of  the — 

Josephine.  His  jests  are  coarse  as  the  grain  of 
his  nature.  Of  course,  you  know  Mme.  Tallien 
was  my  greatest  benefactor  during  the  Revolution. 
Through  her,  Barras  restored  much  of  my  property 
through  his  influence  with  the  Directory,  and  hence, 
for  my  two  children's  sake,  I  am  grateful  to  him, 
and  frequently — very  frequently — do  I  assist  Mme. 
Tallien   at   Barras'   home. 

Napoleon.     I  see!    I  see! 

Josephine.  The  man's  jests  are  barbarously 
chosen ! 

Napoleon.  Yes,  he  smacks  of  the  barracks  more 
than  I,  but  Barras  is  at  the  head  of  the  Directory, 
Madame,  and  at  present  I  am  looking  for  an  ap- 
pointment to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  Italy. 
Just  now  I  need  his  help  and  YOURS  if  you  have 
the  influence  you  say,  through  Mme.  Tallien.  I 
have  need  of  his  influence  to  arrive  at  the  power  I 
seek,  but  {impressively)  the  time  will  yet  come 
when  they  will  all  be  but  too  happy  should  I  grant 
them  mine.  My  sword  is  by  my  side  and  with  it  I 
shall  go  far. 

Josephine.  I  would  consider  it  a  great  honor 
if  I  may  be  able  to  serve  you  in  the  way  you  suggest. 

Napoleon.     You  could  help  me,  Madame. 

Josephine.  And  I  will  do  so  if  you  will  be 
more  explicit.  (Gracefully)  You  are  incomparably 
the  most  fascinating  man  I  have  ever  met. 

Napoleon.  Ah,  Madame,  I  thank  you,  but — 
may  I  call  and  explain  further? 


1 8  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Josephine.     When  shall  I  be  honored? 

Napoleon.  You  are  gracious.  Tomorrow  at 
four.  (Bowing  her  out  through  door)  Adieu. 
(Stands  by  door  in  deep  meditation)  THAT  wom- 
an has  prestige.  She  has  what  I  most  lack — royalist 
friends  and  connections  on  every  hand.  Isolated, 
with  no  fortune  save  that  which  my  sword  carves 
out  for  me,  with  military  rank  and  talents,  I  lack 
only  a  gracious,  diplomatic  woman  of  the  old  school. 
(Goes  over  to  desk;  sits)  She  has  herself  given  me 
the  key  to  the  situation,  and  Barras  has  promised 
to  assist  me  to  negotiate  some  such  marriage  for 
myself !  Now  is  the  time !  Through  her  and  Mmt. 
Tallien,  Barras,  to  be  rid  of  my  growing  power  in 
Paris,  will  nominate  me  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  of  Italy,  and  Josephine  will  be  the  star  of 
my  destiny!  (Rising)  The  English  poet  has  said: 
"The  flighty  purpose  never  is  o'ertook  unless  the 
deed  go  with  it."    I  will  go  at  once  to — BARRAS ! 

[Enter  Barras  ivho  stands  in  door  as  his  name  is 
spokenJ] 

Barras.    (Bowing  profoundly)   At  your  service! 

CURTAIN 


ACT  I 


SCENE   I 


Scene — Josephine  s  sitting  room  in  rue  Chater- 
eine,  Paris.  Large  center  door  with  potted  palms 
or  ferns  at  either  side;  stair-case  L.  with  landing 
four  or  five  steps  up;  lady's  writing  desk  R.  of  door; 
fire-place  R.;  small  table  with  chairs  R.  toward 
front;  wooden  but  gracefully  carved  settle  L.  Dis- 
cover Josephine  sitting  at  writing  desk  with  back 
toward  audience;  she  is  opening  her  mail  and  read- 
ing letters.  Louise,  embroidering  as  she  sits  on  set- 
tle. Josephine  rises  and  comes  down  to  sit  at  table 
with  back  toward  fire-place.  She  lays  letters  on 
table. 

Josephine,  {musing  aloud  as  she  reads  letters) 
I  wonder  whether  this  extraordinary  self-confidence 
which  Bonaparte  manifests  in  his  most  insigniflcent 
words  might  not  merely  be  the  result  of  a  young 
man's  presumption,  which  might  easily  be  destined 
to  bitter  disappointment. 

Louise.     I  don't  think  so. 

Josephine.  Strange  that  this  clever,  young  mil- 
itary officer  should  have  been  attracted  to  me — 

Louise.     Yes — with  HIS  piercing  eyes! 

Josephine.     More  than  six  years  older  than  he! 

Louise.     I  should  say  so! 

Josephine.  Sometimes  I  wonder  whether  the 
man  with  whose  fate  mine  is  now  bound  is  a  mad- 
man or  a  genuine  hero! 

Louise.     I  think  he's  both! 
19 


20  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Josephine,  {louder)  Was  I  wise  to  marry  a 
friend  of  young  Robespierre — to  marry  a  Republi- 
can general? 

Louise.  You  WERE  wise;  what  had  you  to 
lose?  Nothing.  To  gain?  Well,  at  least,  he 
HONORED  you,  which  is  more  than — 

Josephine.  Yes,  Louise,  but  I  must  say  I  trem- 
ble before  the  violence  of  Bonaparte's  love.  You 
have  no  idea — our  honeymoon  lasted  only  two 
days — 

Louise.     Enough,  from  what  you  say! 

Josephine.  Yes,  and  now  he  summons  me  to 
Italy  to  camp — I,  who  love  the  very  gutters  of 
Paris!  To  leave  all  my  friends  and  go  to  Italy  to 
camp  with  only  HIM   for  diversion! 

Louise.  The  bomb  shells  will  furnish  you  di- 
version enough,  judging  from  the  reports! 

Josephine,  {reading  one  of  the  letters)  Lis- 
ten! "Hasten,  for  I  warn  you  that  if  you  linger, 
you  will  find  me  ill;  fatigue  and  your  absence  com- 
bined are  more  than  I  can  bear."  Here's  another. 
I  do  believe  he  never  sends  a  messenger  to  Paris  to 
the  Directory  without  sending,  at  the  same  time,  a 
letter  to  me.  {Reads  from  another  letter)  "You 
are  coming,  are  you  not,  my  darling?  You  will 
soon  be  here  at  my  side  and  I  can  hold  you  in  my 
arms,  close  to  my  heart,  which  beats  only  for  you. 
Oh,  take  wings,  beloved,  and  fly  to  me!"  It  is  im- 
possible to  avoid  it.  I  have  written  that  I  am  too 
ill  to  leave  Paris  until  that  story  is  worn  out.  Now 
he  writes  that  Joseph  is  to  take  me,  and  again, 
that  Junot,  his  aide-de-camp,  is  on  his  way  hither, 
to  conduct  me  to  Toulon,  "if  I  am  able,"  {laughs 
lightly)  he  says! 


ACT  I  21 

Enter  Murat. 

Murat.  How  now!  Good  morning!  How  is 
my  lady?  {As  Josephine  rises  and  acknowledges 
the  greeting  but  points  disconsolately  to  the  letters 
on  table)  Downcast — I  need  not  ask!  Good  morn- 
ing, Louise,  {taking  her  hand  after  which  Louise 
crosses  R.  and  sits  at  table;  Josephine  leads  Murat 
L.  and  sits  on  settle.) 

Louise.  Yes,  Bonaparte  is  an  unreasonable  lov- 
er. {To  audience)  I  wish  he  were  mine!  I'd  ap- 
preciate him  better. 

Murat.  In  love  it  is  idle  to  seek  for  reasons. 
One  loves  because  one  loves,  and  nothing  is  less 
capable  of  explanation  than  this  feeling. 

Josephine.  Yes;  but  one  should  not  love  when 
it  inconveniences  the  lady! 

Murat.  But  I  understand  your  husband,  Mad- 
ame Bonaparte.  Napoleon  is  in  love  in  every  mean- 
ing of  the  word,  judging  from  the  letters  you  have 
shown  me.  It  is,  apparently,  for  the  first  time,  and 
he  feels  it  with  all  the  force  of  his  nature  and  char- 
acter. 

Louise.  Besides,  you  got  him  his  appointment 
to  Italy  from  Barras  yourself,  Madame. 

Josephine.  Yes;  and  when  I  told  him  of  his 
appointment  and  of  the  envy  it  had  already  caused 
among  his  fellow  soldiers,  he  said  pompously, 
"Think  they  then  that  I  have  need  of  their  pro- 
tection to  arrive  at  power?  Egregious  mistake! 
They  will  one  day  be  happy  should  I  grant  them 
mine!  My  sword  is  by  my  side  and  with  it  I  shall 
go  far!"  {Laughs  playfully)  Oh,  Bonaparte  is 
so  funny! 

Enter  the  Poet  Arnault. 


22  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

{Josephine  and  Murat  rise  as  they  find  Arnault 
bowing  before  them.) 

Josephine.     Good  morning,  Arnault. 

Arnault.  Good  morning,  Mme.  Bonaparte. 
Good  morning,  Murat. 

Josephine.     Louise ! 

Louise  {rising  and  going  to  Josephine  who  hands 
her  Arnault's  hat)  Yes.  {She  answers  Arnault's 
polite  bow  of  recognition  by  a  cheerful  "Good  morn- 
ing."   She  then  carries  hat  R.  and  lays  it  on  table.) 

Murat  {to  Arnault)  Good  morning  I  have 
just  brought  Mme.  Bonaparte  another  letter  from 
her  husband,  but  I  hardly  dare  to  present  it,  she  is 
already  so  overcome  with  his  importunate  nature. 

Josephine.  {Sitting  on  settle  with  Murat  on 
her  left,  Arnault  standing  conveniently  near)  Oh! 
have  you  another  letter?  Let  us  read  it;  I  like  to 
read  them;  it  pleases  my  vanity,  I  suppose.  I  dare 
say  he  is  still  begging  me  to  go  to  him. 

Arnault.  Surely  he  does  not  want  you  to  go 
to — 

Josephine,  {as  she  takes  the  letter  and  pro- 
ceeds to  open  it)  Yes,  {piteously)  he  wants  me  to 
go  to  Italy! 

Arnault.     But  the  war  has  scarcely  begun. 

Louise.  {Answering  Arnault's  look  in  her  di- 
rection)   Her  place  is  certainly  not  in  Italy. 

Josephine.  {Looking  up  from  her  letter)  Mu- 
rat, what  do  you  say? 

Murat.  Well,  Madame,  it  is  hardly  the  place 
for  a  young  wife  in  the  tumult  of  a  fight.  The  dis- 
order of  camp  life  will  hardly  please  your  delicate 
nature. 

Josephine,     {gratefully)     I   knew   you  would 


ACT  I  23 

say  that!  {piteously)  But  what  shall  I  do  about 
it?  {Brightening  up  )  Read  that.  {Hands  him 
the  letter)      Isn't  that  ridiculous? 

Louise.     Suspicious?    Again? 

Josephine.     Yes. 

Louise.      {To  audience)    He's  no  fool! 

Josephine.  Look,  Murat.  {Indicates  place  on 
letter)      Read  that  to  Arnault. 

Murat.     I  can't  read   it. 

Josephine.     Try. 

Murat.  No,  I  never  was  good  at  puzzles, 
Madame. 

[Enter  Junot  who  stands  taking  in  the  situation 
unobserved.] 

Josephine.  {Receiving  back  the  letter,  and 
reading)  ''What  are  you  doing?  Why  do  you  not 
come?  If  it  is  a  lover  that  detains  you,  fear  Othel- 
lo's dagger."  How  funny  Bonaparte  is!  Listen, 
Arnault  and  Louise,  {reads)  "When  tempted  to 
curse  my  fate,  I  lay  my  hand  over  my  heart  and 
feeling  your  picture  there,  love  renders  me  supreme- 
ly happy,  and  all  of  life  seems  bright,  save  the  time 
which   I  spend   away  from  you." 

Arnault,  {to  Louise)  She  is  ever  playful. 
How  could  he  mistrust  her. 

Louise,  {to  Arnault)  Yes;  how  could  he! 
{to  audience)  Arnault  doesn't  know  her  as  well 
as  I! 

[Junot  coughs  and  comes  forward.  All  evident- 
ly embarrassed  but  Josephine.] 

Josephine.  Lieut.  Junot!  You  are  welcome. 
Let  me  present  Gen.  Murat  and  the  Poet,  Arnault. 
You  have  met  Louise,  I  think. 

Junot.      {Acknowledging  the  introductions  in  a 


24  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

graceful  but  businesslike  manner)  I  come,  Mad- 
ame, to  conduct  you  at  once  to  your  husband  who 
awaits  you  at  Toulon.  He  commands  your  pres- 
ence under  my  escort.  My  orders  are  six  hours  in 
Paris;  madame,  in  one  hour  I  leave. 

Josephine.  {Dropping  her  head  on  Murat's 
shoulder.  He  puts  her  away  gently)  Oh,  Paris! 
Paris!  {Looking  helplessly  at  Junot)  And  must 
I  leave  everything  and  everybody  for — 

Junot.     {at  the  door)    Madame,  you  must! 

Exit  Josephine  weeping. 

Murat  and  Arnault  take  leave  of  Louise  and 
pass   out  saluting  Junot  gravely. 

Junot.  Tell  Mme.  Bonaparte,  please,  I  will 
return  very  shortly. 

Louise.     Yes,  Lieut.  Junot;  she  will  be  ready. 

Exit  Junot. 

Louise,  {sitting)  Isn't  she  the  little  fool! 
Considering  her  checkered  career  up  to  this  time. 
She  ought  to  be  elated  to  get  such  adoration  from 
a  man  like  he!  Just  think!  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Army  of  Italy.  Only  twenty-six  years  old 
and  his  name  in  every  mouth — and  she  only  laughs 
at  him!  If  I  were  not  well  pensioned  by  her,  it 
could  never  have  happened.  She  is  too  shallow  to 
get  anything  but  amusement  out  of  letters  which  to 
any  serious  woman  would  be  a  crown  of  glory.  All 
she  does  is  bewail  her  fate,  and  yet  in  Paris  Na- 
poleon Bonaparte  is  next  to  Barras,  who  cares  no 
more  for  her  than  she  for  Bonaparte  at  this  mo- 
ment! 

Enter  Josephine. 

Josephine.  Oh,  Louise,  why  are  you  not  get- 
ting ready?     Hasten.    You  must  come  to  keep  my 


ACT  I  25 

courage  up. 

Louise.  No,  Josephine.  Everyone  is  calling  me 
"the  officious;"  they  know  I  am  and  have  been 
your  confidante,  not  your  maid.  You  will  do  bet- 
ter not  to  let  Bonaparte  see  the  relation  in  which 
you  really  hold  me,  but  do  not  fear;  I  will  never 
betray  you. 

Josephine.  Oh,  I  know  that.  But  come.  I 
cannot  bear  to  be  there  without  a  friend — someone 
in  whom  I  can  confide  my  innermost  feelings. 

Louise.     But  you  will  have  Napoleon. 

Enter  Junot  unobserved. 

Josephine.  Oh,  Napoleon!  What  of  him!  I'd 
rather  have  Junot! 

Junot.  {advancing)  Madame,  the  carriage 
waits. 

Josephine.  Must  I  really  go?  Then,  hurry, 
Louise.     I  cannot  go  without  you. 

Louise,     (wisely)    Yes;  you  NEED  me,  I  see. 

(exit) 

Josephine.  (Piteously  as  she  seats  herself  de- 
jectedly at  table  apparently  totally  oblivious  to 
Junot' s  presence)  Oh,  Paris!  Paris!  And  I  must 
leave  you  behind  when  I  was  having  so  many  good 
times  and  when  so  much  seemed  promised  me. 

Re-enter  Louise,  buttoning  her  wraps. 

Junot.  Madame,  we  wait.  Six  hours  only  in 
Paris;  my  orders. 

Exeunt  Josephine  and  Louise. 

Junot.  (in  center  door  before  following)  So 
this  is  the  wife  of  the  MAN  of  DESTINY!  (exit) 

CURTAIN 


26  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

SCENE   II 

Scene — Napoleon  s  tent  on  the  battlefield  near 
Piedmont,  Italy,  1 797>  four  weeks  after  marriage 
to  Josephine.  Narrow  table  just  in  front  of  en- 
trance to  main  tent  with  large  maps  spread  out,  ink 
bottle,  quills,  etc.  Cannon  and  stacked  arms, 
French  solider  pacing  about  regularly.  Discover 
Napoleon  sitting  back  of  table  {facing  audience) 
with  Marmont  and  Lavalette  following  him  as  he 
traces  with  a  pin  in  each  hand  the  proposed  cam- 
paign. 

Napoleon,  {sticking  pins  into  map)  I'll  catch 
them  here!  {Sits  back  with  hands  in  pockets  and 
studies  maps)  Lavalette,  I  am  sending  you  with 
Junot  to  Paris,  because  I  think  you  are  best  fitted 
to  act  on  the  Royalists  and  to  protect  the  families 
of  the  old  regime.  Gen.  Augereau  will  act  on  the 
Republicans  for  me  and  win  the  confidence  of  the 
more  ardent  Democrats.  It  will  not  be  necessary 
for  you  to  communicate  with  him.  Keep  your  own 
counsel  and  he  will  keep  his.    You  understand. 

Lavalette.     Yes,  General,  when  shall  I  start? 

Napoleon.  As  soon  as  I  receive  the  next 
courier  from  Paris. 

Enter  Courier. 

Napoleon.  Ah!  At  last.  {Taking  letters 
from  saluting  courier)  No  letters  from  my  good 
Josephine?  Woman's  way.  {Picks  out  a  letter) 
What!  You  have  one?  Good!  {Opens  letter  and 
reads  eagerly.) 

Marmont.  {to  Lavalette  as  they  look  at  Na- 
poleon narrowly)  However  occupied  he  may  be 
with  his  greatness,  the  interests  intrusted  to  him, 


ACT  I  27 

and  with  his  future,  he  nevertheless  always  has 
time  to  think  of  his  wife. 

Napoleon,  (sitting  down,  one  hand  in  pocket, 
letter  in  the  other)  I've  wronged  that  woman 
greatly.  I  do  not  know  how  I  shall  ever  expiate  my 
fault.  I  reproached  her  for  remaining  in  Paris 
when  she  is  suffering.  Marmont,  a  child  as  ador- 
able as  my  Josephine  will  soon  rest  in  my  arms. 
(Rises  and  walks  up  and  down  rapidly,  taking  out 
a  miniature  of  Josephine  which  he  studies  lovingly. 
Looking  at  it,  he  says  tenderly)  It  seems  to  me  that 
could  I  but  see  you  once,  hold  you  for  an  instant  in 
my  arms,  I  should  be  content,  but,  unfortunate  man 
that  I  am  I  cannot — even  for  a  moment.  I  must 
write  to  Joseph,  my  brother,  (turns  quickly  toward 
table  and  sees  courier  who  stands  waiting  orders) 
Oh!  (to  courier)  What  are  people  saying  about 
us  in  Paris?    Are  they  satisfied? 

Courier.  (Salutes)  They  are  filled  with  ad- 
miration  for  you,   General. 

Napoleon.  They  have  not  seen  anything  yet. 
There  are  still  greater  successes  for  us — in  the  fu- 
ture. Fortune  has  not  smiled  on  us  for  me  to  des- 
pise her  favors.  She  is  a  woman  and  the  more  she 
does  for  me,  the  more  I  shall  demand  of  her.  In 
our  time,  no  one  has  devised  anything  really  great. 
I  must  set  the  example.  (Taking  another  letter 
which  the  courier  has  brought  and  after  reading  it 
intently)  I  am  about  to  resign.  Lavalette,  you 
must  take  my  written  statement  to  the  Directory. 

Lavalette.     Resign ! 

Marmont.     How  !    Why  ? 

Napoleon.  This  letter  informs  me  that  hence- 
forth the  Army  of  Italy  is  to  be  divided  into  two 


28  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

armies,  one  of  which  (that  of  the  South)  is  to  be 
confided  to  me.  This  is  to  set  forth  to  conquer  the 
southern  part  of  the  pensinsula,  while  the  other,  that 
of  the  North,  is  to  be  commanded  by  General  Kel- 
lerman.      (Calls)    Bourrienne!     Bourrienne! 

Enter  Bourrienne  R.  and  Napoleon  indicates  by 
a  wave  of  his  hand  that  he  wants  him  to  sit  down  at 
the  table  and  write.  When  Bourrienne  is  seated, 
Napoleon  sits  on  edge  of  table  and  watches  the  sec- 
retary now  and  then  to  see  that  he  is  getting  the 
dictation  all  right.  Exeunt  Lavalette  and  Mar- 
mont  L. 

Napoleon.  Write:  "I  have  conducted  my 
campaign  without  consulting  anyone.  I  should  have 
failed  had  I  been  compelled  to  adapt  myself  to  an- 
other's methods.  I  have  gained  some  advantages 
over  greatly  superior  forces,  when  my  men  were  in 
absolute  need  of  everything,  because  confiding  in 
their  trust  in  me,  my  march  was  as  swift  as  my 
thought.  (Gets  up  and  begins  to  walk  rapidly 
about)  I  feel  that  it  takes  some  courage — much 
courage  to  write  you  this  letter;  (looking  vaguely 
into  the  audience  with  arms  folded)  it  exposes  me  to 
the  charge  of  ambition  and  pride."  (Takes  out 
miniature  and  regards  it  lovingly)  Address  that 
letter  to  the  Directory.  Take  this  letter  to  Joseph. 
(Dictates)  "My  friend,  I  am  in  despair,  for  my 
wife,  the  only  creature  in  the  world  whom  I  love,  is 
ill,  and  I  am  oppressed  with  the  most  gloomy  fore- 
bodings because  of  her  condition.  I  beseech  you  to 
tell  me  how  she  is,  and  by  the  tie  of  blood  and  the 
tender  friendship  which  unites  us,  beg  that  you  will 
give  her  the  tender  care  which  it  would  be  my 
greatest  joy  to  give  her.    You  cannot  love  her  as  I 


ACT  I  29 

do,  but  you  are  the  only  person  on  earth  who  can, 
even  in  a  measure,  take  my  place.  You  are  the 
only  man  on  earth  for  whom  I  have  always  enter- 
tained a  warm  and  constant  affection.  You  and  my 
Josephine  are  the  only  beings  in  whom  I  feel  any 
interest.  Reassure  me;  tell  me  the  truth.  You 
know  my  ardent  nature,  that  I  have  never  loved  be- 
bore,  that  Josephine  is  the  first  woman  I  have  ever 
truly  cared  for,  and  you  can  understand  that  her 
illness  drives  me  distracted.  I  am  alone,  given 
over  to  fears  and  ill  health;  nobody  writes  to  me 
and  I  feel  deserted  by  all,  even  by  you.  If  my  wife 
is  able  to  stand  the  journey,  I  desire  that  she  should 
come  to  me  for  I  need  her.  I  love  her  to  distraction 
and  I  cannot  endure  the  separation.  If  she  has 
ceased  to  love  me,  my  mission  on  earth  is  finished. 
I  leave  myself  in  your  hands,  my  best  of  friends,  and 
beseech  you  to  so  arrange  matters,  that  my  courier 
will  not  be  obliged  to  remain  in  Paris  longer  than 
six  hours,  to  hasten  his  return  with  the  news  which 
will  give  me  new  life.  (As  Napoleon  dictates  the 
last  words,  the  glass  on  the  miniature  breaks  as  he 
raises  the  picture  to  his  lips.  He  regards  this  as 
an  ill  omen)  Oh,  God!  My  wife  is  either  fright- 
fully ill— or  worse— UNFAITHFUL  TO  ME! 

CURTAIN 


ACT  II 


SCENE   I 


Scene — Napoleons  tent  in  Cairo,  Africa,  1798, 
fourteen  months  after  his  marriage  to  Josephine. 
Comparatively  speaking,  the  same  as  the  tent  scene 
near  Piedmont.  Discover  Napoleon  and  Junot 
walking  together  and  in  intense  conversation,  Na- 
poleon  evidently   much  disturbed  and  angry. 

Napoleon.  Leave  me  now,  Junot,  but  send 
Bourrienne  to  me  at  once.  I  want  to  write  to 
Joseph.     I  will  have  done  with  her! 

Enter  Bourrienne  L. 

Napoleon  (R.)  YOU  are  not  devoted  to  me! 
(Sits  on  bench  outside  tent)  Oh  Woman!  Jose- 
phine!— If  you  were  devoted  to  me,  you  would 
have  told  me  what  I  have  just  learned  from  Junot. 
He  is  a  true  friend.  Josephine  and  I  are  six  hun- 
dred miles  apart. — Josephine — to  deceive  me  in  that 
way!  She! — Confound  them!  I  will  wipe  out  the 
whole  brood  of  coxcombs  and  popinjays! — As  for 
her!  divorce! — yes,  divorce!  a  public  divorce!  a 
full  exposure! — I  must  write.  I  know  everything. 
You  ought  to  have  told  me! 

Bourrienne.  Don't  you  think  Junot  is  a  trifle 
lacking  in  generosity  to  thus  lightly  accuse  a  woman 
who  is  absent  and  unable  to  defend  herself? 

Napoleon,  (mournfully)  Josephine,  of  all  per- 
sons!    To  simulate  a  love  she  did  not  feel! 

Bourrienne.  Do  you  think  Junot  proves  his 
devotion  to  you  by  adding  domestic  trials  to  the 
30 


ACT  II  31 

uneasiness  you  already  feel  over  the  situation  here  at 
this  crisis? 

Napoleon.     Divorce!     Separation  and  divorce! 

Bourrienne.  You  are  mad;  such  a  proceeding 
would  tarnish  your  glory. 

Napoleon.  My  glory!  My  glory!  I  don't 
know  what  I  would  not  give  to  know  that  what 
Junot  has  told  me  is  not  true,  so  much  do  I  love 
that  woman!  If  Josephine  is  guilty,  a  divorce  must 
separate  us  forever — I  don't  want  to  be  the  laugh- 
ing stock  of  all  the  idlers  in  Paris.  I  am  going  to 
write  to  my  brother  Joseph;  he  will  see  to  the 
divorce. 

Bourrienne.  I  wouldn't.  A  letter  may  be  in- 
tercepted and  it  would  only  betray  the  anger  that 
dictated  it.  As  for  divorce,  there  is  time  enough 
for  that  later,  when  you  shall  have  reflected.  You 
will,  in  all  probability,  soon  return  to  Paris.  The 
last  despatches  said  that  your  enemies  were  circulat- 
ing reports  of  your  death.  You  said  that  that  was 
done  for  the  purpose  of  undermining  )^ou  political- 
ly- 

Napoleon.  Yes,  and  it  was,  but  I  cannot  go 
back  yet — Oh,  Josephine! — I  have  yet  to  make  a 
campaign  into  Syria,  and  {firmly)  I  cannot  go  to 
Paris  now — not  even  for  Josephine!  Ah!  Jose- 
phine! She  has  taught  me  to  disbelieve  in  persons. 
I  accepted  her  affectation  of  affection  as  sterling 
coin.  But  oh!  the  folly  of  man  to  believe  in 
woman ! 

Bourrienne.  You  wrong  that  woman.  I  have 
never  seen  her  but  all  tenderness  and  love  for  you. 
She  is  naturally  conquettish,  but  that  does  not  mean 
a  wanton  philander — necessarily. 


32  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Napoleon.  Ah!  There  is  fire  where  there  is 
so  much  smoke. 

Bourrienne.  How  did  Junot  happen  to  tell 
you  this? 

Napoleon.  I  don't  know.  (Looking  up  sud- 
denly)   I  believe  I  asked  him. 

Bourrienne.  And  he  trafficked  on  your  cre- 
dulity. 

Napoleon.     No!    No!     He  did  not. 

Bourrienne.  Yes,  he  did!  You  love  that 
woman  so  madly  that  you  have  to  be  all  action — 
action  of  some  kind — it's  your  nature.  Just  now 
you  are  a  jealous  man,  that  is  all! 

Napoleon.  No!  She  was  showing  my  letters 
to  Murat  and  somebody  else  and  laughing  at  them! 

Bourrienne.     I   don't  believe  it! 

Napoleon.     Ah!     He  quoted  them — 

Bourrienne.    Who  ? 

Napoleon.  Junot — He  quoted  them  exactly! 
(fiercely)  Do  you  think  I  want  to  be  the  laughing 
stock  of  the  whole  army? 

Bourrienne.  (kindly)  The  Little  Corporal 
can  never  be  that! 

Napoleon.  Ah,  you  don't  know!  We  are  all 
but  puppets  of  fate  after  all!  (After  a  few  mo- 
ments ivith  sudden  determination)  I'll  get  back  at 
her! — Where's  that  Mme.  Foures  that  they  all  call 
"the  little  general" — that  pretty  blonde  that  Eu- 
gene and  Merlin  think  so  fine? 

Bourrienne.     (surprised)    But  her  husband! 

Napoleon.     Who  is  her  husband? 

Bourrienne.  Lieut.  Foures  of  the  22d  Chas- 
seures. 

Napoleon.     Send  for  him. 


ACT  II  33 

BOURRIENNE.      Now? 

Napoleon.    At  once! 

Exit  Bourrienne. 

Napoleon  (sits  and  takes  pen  and  paper) 
What's  her  name,  Pauline  or  Marie?  (Writes) 
I  have  seen  and  desired  only  you.  You  are  fair  to 
me  as  Cleopatra  to  the  panting  Antony.  Accept 
the  gifts  I  send  herewith  and  grace  my  table  at 
Palace  Elifl-Bey  tomorrow  evening  at  eight,  (stops 
writing  and  muses)  Letters!  I'll  write  such  let- 
ters to  this  woman  as  that  false  Josephine  never 
dreamed  of.  I'll  give  her  the  blush,  (mournfully) 
A  camp  woman!  How  little  I  thought  when  I 
held  my  Josephine  in  the  first  flush  of  my  love  that 
so  soon  the  mockery  of  it  all  would  be  known  to 
the  world. 

[Enter  Lieut.  Foures;  he  salutes.  Bourrienne 
who  is  with  him  retires  some  little  distance.] 

Napoleon.  (To  Foures)  The  fortunes  of  war 
are  uncertain.  I  desire  you  to  take  these  dispatches 
with  all  haste  to  the  Directory  at  Paris.  An  armed 
ship  leaves  the  habor  tonight  at  eleven. 

Lieut.  Foures.  My  wife — may  I  take  her? 
She  could — 

Napoleon.  No!  A  soldier  has  no  such  priv- 
ileges. You  did  well  to  smuggle  her  here.  Ask 
no  more.  Bid  her  good-bye — (maliciously)  your 
faithful  wife — until  you  meet  again! 

Exit  Foures. 

Napoleon,  (continuing  his  letter)  A  kind 
answer  alone  can  requite  your  adorer.  Napoleon. 
(calls)  Bourrienne!  (hands  him  letter)  See  that 
this  letter,  a  bouquet  of  choice  flowers — I  don't 
care  what — some  beautiful  trinket — ANY  beautiful 


34  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

trinket — be  in  the  hands  of  that  woman  tomorrow 
morning.     Her  husband  goes  tonight. 

Exit  Bourrienne. 

Napoleon.  Accursed  fools  we  men,  and  I  the 
greatest  simpleton  of  them  all! 

CURTAIN 


SCENE  II 

» 

Scene — Same  as  Act  /,  Scene  I,  with  this  ex- 
ception; a  graceful  couch  takes  the  place  of  the 
table  and  chairs  R.  The  settle  is  at  back  of  stage 
and  L.  while  the  table  and  chairs  take  its  place 
down  L.  The  time  is  seventeen  months  after  Na- 
poleon s  marriage  to  Josephine  and  just  after  his 
arrival  in  Paris  at  rue  Chatereine,  Josephine 's  home. 

Enter  Napoleon  ivith  Lucien  and  Joseph. 

Napoleon.  Oh,  you  have  told  me  enough.  Her 
debts  that  Joseph  tells  me  of  are  nothing;  they  can 
be  paid. 

Lucien.  I  don't  see  what  you  married  her  for; 
you  must  have  known  of  her  relations  with  Barras. 

Napoleon.  Stop! — I  don't  give  a  damn  what 
happened  before  I  married  her;  if  I  didn't  question 
her,  you  need  not. 

Joseph.  {Seeing  Lucien  is  crushed)  Well, 
since  your  marriage  then !  There  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever of  M.  Charles'  devotion  at  Milan. 

Lucien.  Whenever  LeClerc  was  away,  he  was 
there  and  when  you  had  him  arrested,  she — 

Napoleon    ( Savagely )    What  ? 

Joseph.     She  wrote  and  procured  him  a  position 


ACT  II  35 

here  in  Paris  at  Brodin's. 

Napoleon.    What  else? 

Lucien.  Murat — she  used  to  show  your  letters 
to  him  and  make  sport  of  them  and  you. 

Napoleon.  So  this  is  the  way  she  carried  on 
for  seventeen  months  while  I  have  been  facing  death 
at  the  cannon's  mouth  to  make  her  the  wife  of  an 
emperor ! 

Lucien.     Hush ! 

Joseph.     Be  careful ! 

Napoleon.     I  thought  of  her  as  suffering — 

Lucien.  Yes,  while  you  thought  her  ill,  she 
was  attending  every  fete  and  opera  of  moment  in 
Paris. 

Napoleon.  I  thought  to  get  a  wife  who  would 
aid  me  socially — a  wife  of  the  old  regime.  I  thought 
to  carve  out  a  name  and  future  on  the  battlefield — 

Enter  Duroc. 

Napoleon.  Ah,  Duroc,  you  see  me  in  my 
weakness. 

Voices  of  mob  outside  shouting  Napoleon  s  name. 

Napoleon.  I  return  after  seventeen  months  to 
find  my  wife  not  at  home  to  welcome  me !  But  I'll 
divorce  her! 

Duroc.  Yes. — Do  you  hear  those  acclamations 
in  the  street? 

Napoleon.  Yes. — Dear  to  me  as  was  the  sound 
of  Josephine's  voice ! 

Duroc.  Yes.  They  do  not  expect  a  scandal. 
Do  your  duty  to  your  country  before  you  dismiss 
your  wife.  To  advertise  your  domestic  trials  is  to 
lay  yourself  open  to  ridicule  and  THAT  in  France 
—in  France  RIDICULE  is  DEATH— Where 
is  she? 


36  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Napoleon.  Guilty — she  dares  not  look  upon 
my  face!     Gone! 

Duroc.  Yes — gone  to  meet  you  by  the  road 
over  which  you  were  announced  to  arrive;  gone  to 
meet  you,  man!  You  took  the  Bourbonnais  route, 
and  she,  poor  woman,  missed  you! 

Napoleon.  Yes,  missed  me!  I  wish  I  missed 
her! 

Duroc.  Yes!  {with  vehemence)  What  kind 
of  friends  or  {looking  sharply  at  Napoleon  s  broth- 
ers)  relatives  have  you  anyway! 

Lucien  {to  Joseph)  She  will  appear  before  him 
with  all  her  fascinations,  explain  matters,  he'll  for- 
give all — 

Napoleon.  What's  that  you  say?  I  forgive? 
Forgive!  Never!  Never!  {striding  up  and  down) 
You  know  me.  Were  I  not  sure  of  my  resolution, 
I  would  pluck  out  this  heart  and  cast  it  into  the 
fire. 

Exeunt  Lucien  and  Duroc.  Enter  Josephine, 
Hortense  and  Eugene. 

Josephine,  {extending  her  arms  to  Napoleon) 
Napoleon ! 

Napoleon,  {waving  her  off)  Madame,  it  is 
my  wish  that  you  retire  immediately  from  this 
house.      Retire   immediately  to  Malmaison. 

Hortense.  {as  her  mother  falls  weeping  and 
exhausted  on  Eugene's  shoulder)  She  has  been 
traveling  steadily  for  three  days  trying  to  catch  up 
with  you.     How  can  you  be  so  cruel ! 

Exeunt  Eugene,  Hortense  and  Josephine. 

Napoleon,  {looking  after  Josephine)  The 
doors  of  my  heart  are  closed  to  you  forever!  {to 
Joseph)    Tell  Eugene  to  come  here  at  once! 


ACT  II  37 

Enter  Eugene. 

Napoleon.  I  want  to  speak  to  you.  It  is  too 
late  for  you  to  go  tonight  to  Malmaison.  She  can 
stay  here — but  not  with  me;  tell  her  so!  As  for 
you,  you  will  never  suffer  for  your  mother's  mis- 
deeds.    I  shall  keep  you  always  with  me. 

Eugene.  No;  you  wont!  When  my  mother  is 
cast  out,  I  am — on  principal. 

Napoleon.  Well  spoken.  I  remember  the  day 
I  gave  you  back  your  father's  sword,  (drops  his 
head  on  Eugene's  shoulder)    Oh,  Josephine! 

Exeunt  Napoleon  and  Eugene  in  tender  embrace. 

[Stage  dark.  Josephine  comes  in  and  mounts  the 
staircase,  sobbing  aloud  as  she  goes.] 

Josephine  (shaking  door  at  top  of  stairs)  Open, 
Napoleon,  open!     Oh!  my  husband!     Open! 

Napoleon  (from  within)  That  door  shall  never 
be  opened  to  you  again! 

[Josephine  remains  sobbing  at  the  door.  Hor- 
tense  and  Eugene  enter  and  climb  the  stair-case  to 
her.] 

Josephine.  What  shall  I  do?  I  never  realized 
my  love  for  him  until  I  fear  the  losing  of  it !  What 
is  now  left  to  me,  my  children? 

Hortense.  (shaking  door)  How  can  you  be 
so  cruel  as  to  refuse  to  see  her  after  your  long 
absence!  At  least,  give  her  a  chance  to  give  her 
side  of  the  story! 

Eugene.  You  will  surely  kill  her  if  you  do  not 
see  her! 

[Hortense  and  Eugene  lead  her  down  and  she  lies 
on  the  couch,  Hortense  and  Eugene  kneeling  beside 
her.  Suddenly  the  door  at  the  head  of  the  stairs 
opens  and  Napoleon  appears  with  candle.   He  comes 


38  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

down  to  the  landing  and  calls  "Josephine"] 

Napoleon.  {Advancing  further  down  and  put- 
ting light  on  table)    Josephine! 

Josephine,  {springing  up)  Napoleon!  Let 
me  explain !    Children,  leave  us ! 

Exeunt  Hortense  and  Eugene. 

Napoleon.  Ah!  but  can  you  explain?  Can 
you  explain  the  frequent  calls  of  Blondin? 

Josephine.  I  can  show  you  his  letters  offering 
marriage  to  my  daughter,  Hortense!  He  cultivated 
me  that  I  might  give  my  sanction. 

Napoleon.     {Shaking  his  head)  M.Charles? — 

Josephine.     A  purely  platonic  friend — 

Napoleon.     {Shaking  his  head)    No. 

Josephine.  I  have  nothing  but  my  word,  Bon- 
aparte. 

Napoleon.     I  take  it!  {steps  to  door)    Eugene! 

Enter  Eugene. 

Napoleon.  I  thought  you'd  not  be  far  off! 
{turns  and  takes  Josephine  in  his  arms)  You  {to 
Josephine) — you  have  conquered;  I  love  you  too 
much  to  repudiate  you.  Reproaches  are  senseless. 
If  you  were  not  very  dear  and  necessary  to  me,  I 
WOULD  NOT  TAKE  YOU  BACK!  {to  Eu- 
gene who  has  been  looking  on  amazed)  Send  Lucien 
and  Bourrienne  to  me  at  once.  I  have  something 
very  important  to  say  to  both. 

Exit  Eugene. 

[Josephine  sobs  quietly  in  Napoleon  s  arms.] 

Enter  Bourrienne. 

Napoleon.  When  I  left  Africa,  I  ordered 
Mme.  Foures  to  follow  me  to  Paris  on  the  next 
armed  boat.     She  arrives  tomorrow  in  the  "Ameri- 

You  un- 


ACT  II  39 

derstand. 

Josephine.     Oh!     Bonaparte! 

Napoleon.  Furnish  her  with  all  the  money 
she  wants.  Any  arrangement  you  make  will  be  sat- 
isfactory to  me  and  MUST  be  so  to  her.  That  is 
all! 

Exit  Bourrienne,  meeting  Lucien  coming  in. 

Napoleon,  {sternly  to  Lucien)  Josephine  and 
I  are  reconciled.  Her  explanations  are  sufficient. 
She  has  my  entire  confidence.  YOU  UNDER- 
STAND! 

Exit  Lucien. 

[Napoleon  takes  candle  and  mounts  steps  to  his 
room;  Josephine  follows  weeping.] 

CURTAIN 


ACT  III 

Scene — Room  in  a  palace  at  Mantua,  Italy, 
1807.  See  Scene  Plot. 

Enter  the  Emperor  Napoleon  and  Lucien. 

Napoleon.  Well,  sir,  I  have  sent  for  you  to  as- 
certain if  you  still  hold  to  Madame  Jouberthon  and 
her  son? 

Lucien.  Mme.  Jouberthon  is  my  wife,  and  her 
son  is  my  son! 

Napoleon.  No  ;  no !  since  it  is  a  marriage  which 
I   do  not  recognize  and,   consequently,   null. 

Lucien.  I  contracted  it  lawfully,  as  a  citizen 
and  as  a  Christian. 

Napoleon.  The  civil  act  is  illegal,  and  it  is 
known  that  you  gave  a  priest  twenty-five  louis-d'or 
to  persuade  him  to  marry  you. 

Lucien.  Doubtless  Your  Majesty,  when  he  in- 
vited me  here,  did  not  do  so  for  the  purpose  of 
paining  me;  if  that  is  his  intention,  I  withdraw. 

Napoleon.  I  have  conquered  Europe,  and  cer- 
tainly I  should  not  flinch  before  you.  You  owe 
your  peaceful  life  in  Rome  to  my  kindness,  but, 
through  the  prestige  of  my  name,  you  are  acquiring 
a  consideration  there  which  displeases  me,  and  in 
time  you  will  annoy  me.  I  will  order  you  to  go 
away,  and  I  will  make  you  leave  Europe. 

Lucien.     And  if  I  should  not  obey? 

Napoleon.     I  will  have  you  arrested. 

Lucien.     And  then — 

Napoleon.     I  shall  have  you  sent  to  Bicetre  and 
40 


ACT  III  41 

then  if — 

Lucien.     I  should  defy  j'ou  to  commit  a  crime. 

Napoleon.  Don't  speak  to  me  that  way;  don't 
imagine  you  can  impose  upon  me!  I  repeat  it,  I 
have  not  conquered  Europe  to  flinch  before  my 
Brother  Lucien!     Leave  the  room! 

Lucien.  (paying  no  attention  to  the  command) 
I  had  no  intention  of  displeasing  your  majesty  by 
saying  that  which  should  show  my  high  opinion  of 
the  greatness  of  his  soul. 

Napoleon.  Never  mind  my  soul!  Cast  your 
eyes  on  the  map  of  the  world,  and  then  join  us, 
Lucien,  and  take  your  share.  It  will  be  a  fine  one, 
I  promise  you.  The  throne  of  Portugal  is  empty. 
I  have  declared  that  the  king  shall  cease  to  reign. 
I  will  give  it  to  you.  Take  command  of  the  army 
destined  to  make  an  easy  conquest  of  it  and  I  will 
make  you  a  French  prince  and  my  lieutenant.  The 
daughters  of  your  first  wife  shall  be  my  nieces;  I 
will  establish  them  in  life.  I  will  marry  the  eldest 
to  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias.  The  King  of  Spain 
asks  it  as  a  favor. 

Lucien.  My  eldest  daughter,  Sire,  is  not  yet 
thirteen ;  she  is  not  old  enough  to  be  married. 

Napoleon.     I  thought  she  was  older. 

Lucien.  In  a  year  or  two  I  shall  gladly  let 
you  dispose  of  her  as  you  see  fit. 

Napoleon.  Then  there  are  difficulties  about  the 
children  of  your  first  wife  and  you  have  daughters 
by  your  second  wife.  I  will  adopt  them.  You 
have  a  son  by  her,  too;  I  shall  not  recognize  him; 
his  mother  shall  have  an  important  principality  and 
he  can  be  her  heir.  As  for  YOU,  go  to  Lisbon; 
leave  your  wife  and  son  in  Rome  and  I  will  look 


42  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

after  them.  Your  ties  are  broken;  I  will  find  the 
way. 

Lucien.     That  can  only  be  by  divorce. 

Napoleon.  And  why  not?  That  is  a  frank 
and  positive  way  of  stating  it  and  perfectly  suits 
me.  I  want  to  be  reconciled  to  you  and  you  know 
the  price  attached  to  the  Portuguese  crown! 

Lucien.  I  see  that  to  get  it,  I  should  have  to 
consent  to  make  my  wife  a  concubine,  my  son  a 
bastard.  Your  Majesty  knows  me  ill  if  he  has 
been  able  to  believe  that  the  offer  of  a  crown  could 
tempt  me  to   a  dishonorable  action. 

Napoleon.  He  who  is  not  with  me  is  against 
me;  if  you  do  not  enter  into  my  system,  you  are  my 
enemy,  and  thereby  I  have  the  right  to  persecute 
you,  and  I  will  persecute  you. 

Lucien.  I  do  not  want  you  to  be  my  enemy, 
Sire;  I  cannot  become  one  to  you  by  preserving  my 
honor  and  my  virtue,  by  refusing  to  give  up  my 
reputation  for  a  throne,  and  that  this  disagreement 
may  be  unknown,  let  your  majesty  give  me  some 
spectacular  proof  of  his  kindness.  Give  me  the 
broad  ribbon  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 

Napoleon.  No;  by  taking  my  colors  you 
would  ruin  your  reputation.  It  is  a  great  thing  to 
be  opposed  to  me.  It  is  a  fine  part  to  play.  You 
can  continue  it  for  two  years,  and  then  you  will 
have  to  leave  Europe. 

Lucien.  I  shall  be  prepared  to  leave  much 
sooner.  I  should  have  gone  long  since  to  America 
had  it  not  been  for  the  entreaties  of  my  mother 
and  Josephine. 

Napoleon.  I  do  not  ask  that  of  you.  My 
propositions  are  not  too  unreasonable  to  be  thought 


ACT  III  43 

over.  Ponder  them  with  your  wife.  Jerome  yield- 
ed to  me — gave  up  his  wife  and  see  him  NOW! 
Monarch  of  the  Kingdom  of  Westphalia. 

Lucien.  Yes;  Jerome  yielded  to  you,  but  Lu- 
cien  is  made  of  different  metal! 

Napoleon,     {angrily)    I  am  the  Emperor! 

Lucien.  Emperor  or  not!  I  want  you  to  dis- 
tinctly understand  that  I  prefer  my  simple,  homely 
wife — "the  soap-maker's  daughter,"  as  you  choose 
to  call  her,  to  all  the  wealth,  all  the  honors,  all 
the  kingdoms  of  the  world! 

Napoleon.     Go  ! 

Exit  Lucien;  Napoleon  paces  up  and  down  like 
a  caged  lion. 

Enter  Josephine  weeping. 

Napoleon.  Why  are  you  crying,  Josephine? 
It  is  absurd.  I  have  created  your  son  Vice-Roy  of 
Italy,  and  now  you  cry  because  you  are  separated 
from  him.  If  the  absence  of  your  children  gives 
you  so  much  pain,  judge  what  I  must  suffer.  The 
affection  you  show  them  makes  me  feel  the  more 
acutely  my  unhappiness  in  having  none. 

Josephine.     Oh,  Bonaparte,  don't. 

Napoleon.  Besides,  I  have  real  troubles — not 
imaginary  ones!  I  have  just  quarreled  with  Lucien, 
and  ordered  him  from  my  sight. 

Josephine.     Why? 

Napoleon.  Because  that  wife  of  his  is  inap- 
propriate and  inadmissible.    I  want  him  to  marry — 

Josephine.  Let  him  love  or  marry  whom  he 
chooses.  Let  him  have  that  right  of  all. — She  ap- 
pears to  be  a  worthy  woman  and  he  loves  her.  Let 
him  alone. 

Napoleon.     You   are  very  kind   to  plead   for 


44  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

HIM — It  is  very  hard  to  find  in  one's  family  op- 
position to  such  great  interests.  I  shall  have  to 
isolate  myself  from  everyone  and  to  depend  upon 
myself  alone.  Well,  I  shall  suffice  for  myself  and 
you,  my  good  Josephine,  will  console  me  for  every- 
thing, (confidentially)  I  have  married  my  brother 
Louis  to  your  daughter  Hortense  and  their  son 
shall  be  ours  BY  ADOPTION. 

Here  is  the  edict.  (Takes  from  an  inner 
pocket  a  folded  paper  with  red  seal  and  ribbon) 
"The  French  people  desire  the  inheritance  of  the 
imperial  dignity  in  the  direct,  natural  or  adoptive 
line  of  descent  from  Napoleon  Bonaparte — as  is 
determined  by  the  organic  senatus  consultum  of  the 
28th  Floral  Year  XII." 

Josephine.  Ah,  Bonaparte,  you  have  been  so 
good  to  us  all.  Your  blood  and  mine  you  make  to 
mount  the  throne  of  kings!  But  this  last — adopting 
my  daughter  Hortense's  child — why!  the  young 
Napoleon,  when  you  and  I  shall  have  passed  away, 
will  be  Emperor  of  France!  And  you  have  done 
this — my  husband! 

Enter  Louis,  Mme.  Murat  and  Stephanie  de 
Beauharnais. 

Napoleon.  Well,  Louis?  I  read  opposition  in 
every  line  of  your  face!     What  now? 

Louis.  I  have  just  learned  that  you  reserve  for 
yourself  the  right  of  adoption,  and  that  you  choose 
to  adopt  my  child  as  your  own! 

Napoleon.    Yes. 

Mme.  Murat.  Why  condemn  me  and  my  sis- 
ters to  obscurity,  to  contempt,  while  covering 
strangers  with  honors  and  dignity! 

Napoleon.     My  DEAR  sister  Caroline,  judg- 


ACT  III  45 

ing  from  your  pretentions,  one  would  suppose  that 
I  had  inherited  this  throne  from  the  late  king, 
your  father,  and  that  I  were  trying  to  cheat  you 
out  of  it.  Kindly  reflect  that  were  it  not  for  me 
you  would  still  be  plain  Caroline  Bonaparte,  not 
even  the  wife  of  Gen.  Murat. 

[Mme.  Murat  goes  R.  to  where  Stephanie  has 
seated  herself  unostentatiously  on  a  small  chair  and 
takes  her  by  the  arm  roughly.] 

Mme.  Murat.  Get  up;  it  is  not  proper  for 
anyone  to  remain  seated  in  the  presence  of  the  fami- 
ly of  the  emperor.  {The  girl  rises  and  weeps  soft- 
ly with  chagrin.) 

Louis.  But  why  must  I  resign  to  my  SON  a 
part  of  your  succession?  Why  do  I  deserve  to  be 
disinherited  ?  What  will  be  my  condition  when  this 
child,  having  become  yours,  shall  find  himself  in  a 
position  superior  to  mine,  independent  of  me,  hold- 
ing the  place  next  to  you,  and  eyeing  me  with  un- 
easiness, or  possibly  even  with  contempt?  No;  I 
shall  never  consent  to  it;  and  rather  than  consent 
to  bow  my  head  before  my  son,  I  shall  leave  France 
and  take  the  young  Napoleon  with  me,  and  then  we 
shall  see,  if,  in  the  face  of  the  world,  you  will  dare 
to  take  a  child  from  his  father. 

Napoleon.  Louis,  you  certainly  ARE  self- 
sacrificing  and  disinterested!  You  are  a  model 
father  for  all  time! 

Enter  Joseph. 

Napoleon.  Joseph!  He  has  some  complaint. 
Ye  gods!  What  a  harmonious  household!  If  our 
poor  Corsican  father  could  see  us  now!     Joseph! 

Joseph,     (thunders)    Yes! 

Napoleon  (before  Joseph  can  say  another  word) 


46  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Consider  the  origin  of  the  Bonaparte  family!  For 
God's  sake  do  you  be  a  prince  and  don't  disturb 
yourself  about  the  transmission  of  the  title!  What 
are  you  crying  for,  Stephanie?  Any  pins  in  that 
chair?  Or  are  Caroline's  remarks  as  barbed  as 
usual?  Come  and  sit  on  my  knee  and  you  wont 
incommode  "the  sister  of  an  Emperor!"  {Dances 
her  on  his  knee.) 

CURTAIN 


ACT  IV 


SCENE    I 


Scene — Room  in  Fontainebleau,  1 809.  Doors 
C.  in  back  flat  and  L.  I  E.  Up  stage  and  L.  C.  a 
grand  piano  with  bench  for  players;  also  harp  near- 
by. Louis  XIV  chairs  here  and  there  and  large 
potted  plants.  R.  on  dais  with  red  rug  two  high 
backed  chairs  with  Napoleon's  medallion  on  leather 
backs.     Fire-place  with  mantle  R. 

[The  doors  are  thrown  wide  open  and  a  lackey 
anounces:  The  EMPRESS  JOSEPHINE  and 
HORTENSE,  QUEEN  OF  HOLLAND  and 
Ladies.  Josephine  mounts  the  dais  and  sits;  Hor- 
tense  is  motioned  to  take  her  place  beside  her  mother 
and  on  her  right.~\ 

Josephine,  (to  the  lady  of  the  three  ladies-in- 
waiting  next  to  her)  Duchess,  I  want  to  talk  pri- 
vately with  my  daughter.  You  and  my  ladies  may 
have  the  morning  to  drive  in  the  park.  (Ladies 
bow  profoundly  and  retire,  lackeys  opening  the 
doors  for  them  but  only  half  way,  as  the  doors  are 
only  opened  to  their  full  extent  for  Napoleon  or 
Josephine.) 

Hortense.  The  most  desirable  of  all  blessings 
is  repose,  seclusion,  a  little  spot  we  can  call  our 
own.  You  and  I,  mother,  cannot  but  see  that  a 
court  satisfies  no  one  and  yet  prevents  one  from 
being  satisfied  anywhere  else. 

Josephine.  Yes,  Hortense,  often  I  think  that 
a  court  is  a  country  where  the  joys  are  visible  but 
47 


48  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

false,  and  the  sorrows,  hidden  but  nevertheless  real. 
Never  does  Providence  show  more  clearly  the  noth- 
ingness of  this  world's  grandeur  and  magnificence 
than  in  the  study  of  our  own  court  life.  It  is  sure 
to  teach  wisdom  and  indifference  to  human  glories. 

Hortense.  Why  do  you  speak  thus,  mother? 
It  sounds  almost  like  a  prophecy  of  ill.  Why  are 
you  so  sad  these  days?  Is  it  not  enough  for  me  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  my  boy? 

Josephine.  Ah!  Hortense,  that  boy  is  a  double 
loss.  Since  his  death,  Napoleon  is  not  the  same  to 
me.  I  have  a  feeling  in  my  heart  that  all  is  not 
well.  For  nine  years  now  I  have  held  sway  over 
his  heart  and  I  know  every  movement — I  have 
studied  him — he  can  hide  nothing  from  me  and — 
something  awful  is  coming  to  me! 

[Announced:  Fouche,  Minister  of  Police;  Cor- 
visart,  Court  Physician.  Josephine  and  Hortense 
rise  and  the  latter  goes  over  to  the  piano  and  plays 
some  soft,  sad  chords  until  summoned  by  the  Em- 
press later  on  in  the  scene.~\ 

Josephine.  Ah,  Fouche;  Doctor!  (to  lackeys) 
Chairs! — You  may  be  seated! 

Fouche     (bowing)     Your  Majesty  is  gracious! 

Doctor  (bowing)  Most  Serene  Highness! 
(sits.) 

[Announced:  The  Emperor.  Enter  Napoleon 
with  a  few  gentlemen.  Josephine,  Fouche  and 
Corvisart  all  rise.~\ 

Napoleon.  Ah,  Fouche;  (looking  playfully  at 
the  Empress)  I  believe  thou  art  the  wickedest  fel- 
low in  my  dominions! 

Fouche.  (bowing  profoundly)  For  a  subject, 
Sire,  I  really  think  I  am! 


ACT  IV  49 

Napoleon.  Good,  Fouche;  your  wit  is  ever 
polished. 

Fouche.     Your  Royal  Higness,  I  thank  you. 

Napoleon,  (to  Corvisart)  How  now,  Doctor, 
what  have  you  to  say  for  yourself?  Tell  me  now, 
my  good  doctor,  how  many  men  have  you  sent  into 
the  other  world? 

Doctor.  Not  nearly  so  many  as  has  your  ma- 
jesty, but  with  infinitely  less  glory! 

Napoleon.  Ah,  I  see,  my  good  doctor,  that  you 
have  other  weapons  than  the  dissecting  knife,  and 
ONE  that  grows  keener  with  constant  use.  (En- 
tertainingly) I  asked  the  doctor  once  to  play  a 
quiet  game  of  cards  with  me,  and  the  old  rogue 
told  me  he  knew  not  the  difference  between  a  knave 
and  a  King! 

All.     Ha!     Ha!     Ha! 

Napoleon.  Come,  Doctor,  I  desire  your  pres- 
ence just  now! 

Exit  Emperor  and  followers, 

Josephine  (sitting)  Now,  your  business,  please, 
Fouche ! 

Fouche.  As  a  minister,  charged  with  general 
supervision,  I  am  here  to  bring  to  your  ma- 
jesty's mind  a  certain  fact.  In  the  eyes  of  the 
Council,  for  the  public  good — above  all,  for  the 
strengthening  of  the  existing  dynasty,  it  is  required 
that  the  Emperor  should  have  children.  We  think, 
Your  Highness,  that  you  ought  to  ask  the  Senate  to 
join  with  you  in  demanding  of  the  Emperor  a  sacri- 
fice most  painful  to  his  heart! 

Josephine  (with  remarkable  coolness)  Stop! 
Do  you  take  this  step  by  the  Emperor's  orders? 

Fouche.     No!     As  a  minister  charged  with  a 


50  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

general  supervision,  as  a  private  citizen  and  one  de- 
voted  to  his  highness'   glory. 

Josephine.  In  that  case,  I  have  nothing  to  say 
to  you.  I  regard  my  union  with  the  Emperor  as 
written  in  the  Book  of  Fate.  I  shall  never  discuss 
this  matter  with  anyone  but  him.  I  will  never  do 
anything  but  by  his  orders. 

[Announced:    M.  Gretry,  the  Composer.] 

Josephine,  (to  Fouche)  You  are  dismissed. 
(He  hands  her  a  folded  paper)    What  is  this? 

Fouche.  (bowing  profoundly)  Reading  mat- 
ter for  Your  Highness! 

Exit  Fouche. 

Josephine.  Gretry — now  that  I  have  you  to 
myself — you  may  be  seated — I  want  to — strange 
thing  to  do — I  want  to  apologize  for  my  husband's 
forgetfulness  which  must  be  plainful  to  you.  The 
Emperor  is  not  good  at  remembering  names  and  he 
seems  to  have  particular  difficulty  in  remembering 
yours,  but,  believe  me,  he  is  not  so  forgetful  of 
your  contribution  to  the  world  of  music. 

[Re-enter  the  Emperor  coming  back  to  go  out 
Door  C.     Gretry  and  Josephine  rise  and  bow.] 

Napoleon,  (to  Gretry)  Let  me  see!  What  is 
it  you  call  yourself,  pray? 

Gretry  (bowing  but  amused  immeasurably) 
Your  Highness,  I  am  STILL  Gretry. 

Napoleon.  Yes,  that  is  the  name!  Your  pres- 
ence, please. 

Exit  Gretry  in  train  of  Emperor. 

Josephine,  (left  to  herself  reads  paper  given 
her  by  Fouche)  Hortense!  Hortense! — What 
shall  I  do  to  ward  off  this  storm?  The  Minister  of 
Police — try    to    be    calm — herein    urges    the    spon- 


ACT  IV  51 

taneous  sacrifice  of  my  love.  "The  more  painful 
the  more  meritorious,"  he  says. 

Hortense.  Mother,  my  advice  is  to  go  this 
very  moment  to  the  Emperor. 

Josephine.  But  is  it  not  clear  that  Fouche  was 
sent  by  the  Emperor  and  that  my  fate  is  sealed? 
Alas!  To  leave  the  throne  is  nothing  to  me.  Who 
knows  better  than  I  how  many  tears  I  have  shed 
there!  But  to  lose  at  the  same  time  the  man  to 
whom  I  have  given  my  best  love — this  sacrifice  is 
beyond  my  strength. 

Hortense.  It  may  not  be  so  bad.  Go  to  him, 
mother.  Remember  you  must  seem  to  have  con- 
sulted no  one.  Make  him  read  this  letter.  Watch 
him  closely — show  him  that  you  hate  such  round- 
about methods;  tell  him  such  an  order  should  come 
only  from  him.  Wait — wait — until  he  has  retired 
— then  go  to  him. 

Josephine.  Ah,  my  daughter,  I  told  you  of  his 
restraint  in  manner,  of  the  anxious  looks  of  my  at- 
tendants and  his.  He  has  had  the  masons  wall  up 
the  door  between  our  apartments!  Ah!  If  you 
knew  in  what  torments  I  have  passed  the  last  few 
weeks  in  which  I  was  no  longer  his  wife,  although 
compelled  to  appear  before  the  world  as  such !  The 
agony  and  suspense.  In  what  uncertainty,  what 
expectancy,  more  cruel  than  death,  I  have  lived  and 
am  still  living,  awaiting  the  lightening  stroke  that 
has  long  glowed  in  Napoleon's  eyes! 

Hortense.     Ah,  mother,  your  cause  is  lost! 

Josephine.  I  know  it,  my  daughter!  I  know 
it! 

Lackey  opens  door  center  and  Napoleon  enters 
unannounced. 


52  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Josephine.  The  hour  has  come! — May  Hor- 
tense   remain? 

Napoleon,  (to  Hortense)  Go.  (to  Josephine) 
No! 

Exit  Hortense  weeping. 

Napoleon,  (trembling  and  shuddering  takes 
Josephine's  hand  and  presses  it  close  to  his  heart, 
and  after  gazing  sometime  at  Josephine)  Josephine, 
my  dear  Josephine,  you  know  how  I  have  loved  you. 
I  have  been  wont  to  say  it  was  to  war  I  owed  my 
glory  and  my  power.  Without  it  I  would  have  been 
nothing;  by  it,  I  was  everything.  I  love  war  both 
by  instinct  and  calculation  but  to  you — to  you  alone, 
I  owe  the  only  moments  of  pure  happiness  I  have 
tasted  in  this  world.  But,  Josephine,  my  destiny  is 
not  to  be  controlled  by  my  will.  Friendship  is  only 
a  name,  and  men  must  be  firm  in  heart  and  pur- 
pose or  they  should  have  nothing  to  do  with  war  or 
government.  (Puts  both  hands  on  her  shoulders) 
Josephine,  my  destiny  is  not  to  be  controlled  by  my 
will.  (Lets  her  stand  alone  unsupported)  My 
dearest  affections  must  yield  to  the  interests  of 
France ! 

Josephine.  Say  no  more!  I  understand  you! 
I  expected  this,  but  the  blow  is  nonetheless  mortal. 

She  falls  face  downward. 

Josephine.  You  will  not  do  it!  You  do  not 
wish  to  kill  me! 

Napoleon.  (Who  has  taken  candle  from  man- 
tle over  fire-place,  standing  in  Door  C.  looking 
sadly  at  her)  In  the  interests  of  France  and  for 
my  dynasty,      (exit) 

CURTAIN 


ACT  IV  53 

N.  B.  If  a  curtain  call  is  given,  Corvisart,  The 
Court  Physician,  and  Hortense  will  be  leaning 
tenderly  over  the  Empress. 

SCENE   II 

Scene — Room  in  Fontainebleau,  one  day  later. 
Large  Center  Door  at  back  of  stage,  fire-place  R. 
and  somewhat  down  stage;  Davenport  R.  On 
raised  dais  L.  square  table  with  high  backed  chair 
(for  Napoleon)  so  placed  that  when  he  sits  on  same 
the  audience  can  see  his  face  well;  smaller  arm- 
chair for  Josephine  opposite  this. 

Discover  Regnault  de  Saint-Jean  d'Angely  talk- 
ing before  fire-place. 

Regnault.  {to  Arnault,  the  Poet,  standing  be- 
side him)  True,  Josephine  is  vastly  admired  by  the 
French  people.  Whatever  her  previous  errors,  since 
she  has  been  allied  to  him,  her  devotion  has  been 
unquestionable.  All  the  fibres  of  her  loving  heart 
have   entwined   themselves   about  him. 

Arnault.  Why  don't  you  men  who  are  closest 
to  the  Emperor  tell  him  all  this? 

Regnault.  We  have  done  so — many  of  us. 
We  have  urged  upon  him  that  an  alliance  with  a 
member  of  some  old  dynasty  like  that  of  Austria 
might  be  contrary  to  the  Republican  spirit  of  the 
people,  but  how  can  a  man  tell  the  truth  to  himself 
when  the  press  is  muzzled  and  public  power  rests 
only  on  his  general  approval ;  when  there  is  no  slave 
even  to  remind  the  triumphant  hero,  as  in  ancient 
times,  that  he  is  only  a  man!  How  is  it  possible 
to  avoid  being  infatuated  with  one's  own  greatness 
and  not  to  imagine  oneself  the  absolute  master  of 


54  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

one's  destiny? 

Arnault.  True,  that  man  is  an  exceptional 
being;  everything  succumbs  to  his  superior  genius, 
to  the  force  of  his  character,  everything  about  him 
shows  the  stamp  of  authority.  The  man  is  born 
to  command  as  so  many  others,  to  obey.  I  once 
heard  the  Prefect  of  Arras  say  "God  created  Bona- 
parte and  then  he  rested!" 

Regnault.  God  would  have  done  better  had 
he  rested  a  little  sooner — ere  He  made  him  am- 
bitious of  empire! 

Arnault.  Yes;  but  if  I  am  anything  of  a 
prophet,  if  Napoleon  Bonaparte  is  not  lucky  enough 
to  be  carried  off  by  a  bullet  within  four  years,  he 
will  be  in  exile!     Hush!     Careful! 

Napoleon  {Enters  with  arms  folded;  crosses 
over  to  the  fire-place  and  looks  into  it,  then  turns  his 
back  to  the  blaze  and  with  head  dropped  medita- 
tively) It  is  an  unhappy  necessity  that  compels  me 
to  separate  from  her.  I  pity  her  from  the  depths 
of  my  heart.  {Seeing  Arnault  and  Regnault)  As- 
certain for  me  if  Eugene  has  yet  arrived  from  Italy. 

Enter  Eugene. 

Regnault.     Even  now,  Your  Majesty. 

Eugene  {taking  Napoleons  hand)  Your  Ex- 
cellence, is  it  true  that  you  have  decided  to  obtain 
a  divorce  from  the  Empress,  my  mother?  {No  an- 
swer save  a  pressure  of  the  hand)  Then  {drops 
Napoleon  s  hand)  Sire,  in  THAT  case,  permit  me 
to  withdraw  from  your  service. 

Napoleon.  How!  Will  you,  Eugene,  my 
adopted  son,  leave  me? 

Eugene.  Yes,  Sire,  {firmly)  the  son  of  her 
who  is  no  longer  an  Empress  cannot  remain  vice- 


ACT  IV  55 

roy  of  Italy.  I  will  follow  my  mother  into  her 
retreat.  Her  only  consolation  now  must  be  in  her 
children. 

Napoleon,  (in  a  mournful  tone)  Eugene,  you 
know  the  stern  necessity  which  compels  this  meas- 
ure, and  will  you  forsake  me?  Who,  then,  should 
I  have  a  son,  the  object  of  my  desires  and  preserver 
of  my  interests,  who  would  watch  over  the  child 
when  I  am  absent?  If  I  die,  who  will  prove  to  him 
a  father?  Who  will  bring  him  up?  Who  is  to 
make  a  man  of  him? 

Eugene,  (taking  his  hand)  My  benefactor — 
my  more  than  father!  It  is  my  mother's  command 
— even  now — that  I  give  you  boundless  obedience. 

Napoleon.  Matchless  Josephine!  Unique  and 
unparalleled  in  history  shall  she  be.  I  give  her 
more  than  money,  palaces,  titles;  I  give  her  my 
sympathy  and  my  tears.  (With  sudden  resolution) 
Let  us  have  it  over.  Arnault  and  Regnault,  sum- 
mon them  from  the  next  room — I  am  ready  for  the 
preliminaries!  Come!  (goes  over  to  his  chair  and 
Eugene  with  folded  arms  takes  his  place  beside  him. 
Regnault  stands  behind  chair  intended  for  Jose- 
phine.) 

[Enter  Caroline  and  Gen.  Murat,  Stephanie, 
Ladies  -  in  -  Waiting,  Louis,  Junot,  Bourrienne, 
Joseph,  Fouche,  Corvisart,  etc.,  etc.  Napoleon  sits 
dazed.     Nothing  is  said.~\ 

[Enter  Empress  Josephine,  pale  but  self-possess- 
ed, on  the  arm  of  Hortense,  who  is  weeping  bitter- 
ly. Josephine  advances  gracefully  to  seat  assigned 
to  her;  Regnault  takes  his  place  on  her  left  and 
Hortense  on  her  right.  Napoleon  rises,  she  bows  to 
him  and  he  waves  her  to  be  seated.] 


56  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Napoleon  (In  a  hard  metallic  voice,  reads  from 
paper  taken  from  table)  "The  political  interests 
of  my  monarchy,  the  wishes  of  my  people,  which 
have  constantly  guided  my  actions,  require  that  I 
should  transmit  to  an  heir,  inheriting  my  love  for 
the  people,  the  throne  on  which  Providence  has 
placed  me.  For  many  years  I  have  lost  all  hopes  of 
having  children  by  my  beloved  spouse,  the  Empress 
Josephine,  and  it  is  this  consideration  which  in- 
duces me  to  sacrifice  the  sweetest  affections  of  my 
heart,  to  consult  only  the  good  of  my  subjects,  and 
to  desire  the  dissolution  of  my  marriage.  Arrived 
at  the  age  of  forty  years,  I  may  indulge  a  reasonable 
hope  of  living  long  enough  to  rear,  in  the  spirit  of 
my  own  thoughts  and  disposition,  the  children  with 
whom  it  may  please  God  to  bless  me.  God  knows 
what  such  a  determination  has  cost  my  heart;  but 
there  is  no  sacrifice  which  is  above  my  courage  when 
it  is  proved  to  be  for  the  interests  of  France.  Far 
from  having  any  cause  of  complaint,  I  have  nothing 
to  say  but  in  praise  of  the  attachment  and  tenderness 
of  my  beloved  spouse.  She  has  embellished  fifteen 
years  of  my .  life,  and  the  remembrance  of  them 
will  be  forever  engraven  on  my  heart.  She  was 
crowned  by  my  hand.  She  shall  retain  always  the 
rank  and  title  of  Empress.  Above  all,  let  her  never 
doubt  my  feelings,  or  regard  me  but  as  her  best  and 
dearest  friend." 

Josephine,  (rises  and  with  paper  in  hand  fal- 
ters) By  the  permission  of  my  august  and  dearly 
beloved  spouse,  I  am  here  to  say  that  I  respond  to 
all  the  sentiments  of  the  Emperor  in  consenting  to 
the  dissolution  of  a  marriage  which,  henceforth,  is 
an  obstacle  to  the  happiness  of  France,  by  depriving 


ACT  IV  57 

it  of  the  blessing  of  being  one  day  governed  by  the 
descendants  of  that  great  man  who  was  evidently 
raised  up  by  Providence  to  efface  the  evils  of  a 
great  revolution,  and  to  restore  the  altar,  and  the 
throne  and  social  order,  {dropping  down  into  seat, 
she  hands  the  paper  to  Regnault  that  he  may  read 
the  remainder.) 

Regnault  {while  Josephine  sits  with  head  in 
hand  of  arm  resting  on  table — everyone  weeping 
more  or  less  apparently)  "But  his  marriage  will  in 
no  respect  change  the  sentiments  of  my  heart.  The 
Emperor  will  ever  find  in  me  his  best  friend.  I 
know  what  this  act,  commanded  by  policy  and  ex- 
alted interests,  has  cost  his  heart,  and  we  both  glory 
in  the  sacrifices  we  make  for  the  good  of  the  coun- 
try! I  feel  elevated  in  giving  the  greatest  proof 
of  attachment  and  devotion  that  was  ever  given 
upon  earth. 

[Napoleon  rises  and  goes  around  the  table  and 
takes  Josephine's  hand  {she  has  risen);  then 
he  takes  her  in  his  arms  for  a  brief  space  of  time 
until  Hortense  takes  her  to  lead  her  out.  Eugene 
attempts  to  follow  but  faints  on  threshold  crying 
"Mother,  Mother?'] 

CURTAIN 

[Curtain  rises  immediately  to  find  stage  clear 
save  for  Napoleon  who  stands  dejectedly  with  arms 
folded  and  head  held  meditatively  and  with  back  to 
fire-place.  At  length  he  crosses  to  couch  and  sits 
there  staring  blankly. 

Enter  Josephine  in  dressing  gown.  She  hesitates 
and  then  totters  toward  him.] 


58  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

Josephine.  My  husband!  My  husband!  {flings 
herself  into  his  arms  and  lavishes  on  him  the  tender- 
est  caresses.     Both  weep.) 

Napoleon,  (seeing  Constant  who  has  follow- 
ed and  remained  in  door)  Go  outside,  Constant. 
(Sits  on  couch  with  Josephine  and  lets  her  sob) 
Come,  my  good  Josephine,  (rises)  be  more  reason- 
able. Come,  courage,  courage !  I  shall  look  out  for 
you  and  your  children.  I  shall  come  to  see  you 
often — very  often,  but — I  respect  the  wife  too  much 
to  make  her  the  mistress.  You  must  go,  my  good 
Josephine!     Constant!     Constant! 

Enter  Constant  who  leads  Josephine  out.  Na- 
poleon throws  himself  on  couch. 

Re-enter  Constant. 

Napoleon.  Take  away  the  lights.  (In  the 
darkness  as  he  throws  himself  wearily  down)  I  feel 
as  if  my  star  had  gone  out!  I  won  battles,  but 
Josephine  conquered  hearts ! 

CURTAIN 


ACT  V 

Scene — Josephine's  boudoir  at  Malmaison  in 
May  1 814.  Large  door  R.  C.  Grand  Piano,  bench 
for  same,  harp  R.  toward  back  of  stage.  Writing 
desk  suitable  for  lady  L.  C.  and  large  potted  plants 
with  bust  of  Napoleon  gleaming  from  pedestal. 
Down  stage  R.  small  table  with  small  chair  on 
either  side.     Settle  down  stage  left. 

[Discover  Josephine  sitting  at  her  desk  and  Hor- 
tense  playing  softly  on  piano.  Josephine  takes  some 
letters  from  desk  and  comes  down  stage  and  sits  on 
settle  reading  and  musing  alternately.] 

Josephine.  Four  years  have  passed  since  that 
day — three  since  the  birth  of  that  boy.  {Picks  up 
one  of  the  letters  and  reads)  "This  infant  in  con- 
cert without  Eugene  will  constitute  my  happiness 
and  that  of  France."  Ah!  Bonaparte,  you  were 
most  amiable!  Could  anything  be  better  calculated 
to  soothe  whatever  might  be  painful  in  my  thoughts 
when  the  cannon  were  booming  and  the  bells  ring- 
ing that  announced  to  the  world  that  Napoleon's 
sacrifice  of  his  wife  to  an  inordinate  ambition  had 
not  been  in  vain.  Surely  the  morning  when  I  first 
saw  Napoleon  enter  this  room,  leading  the  young 
Napoleon  by  the  hand,  was  certainly  the  happiest 
of  my  life,  for  it  effaced,  for  a  time,  the  recollection 
of  all  that  had  preceded  it,  for  never  have  I  re- 
ceived from  him  a  more  touching  mark  of  affection 
and  respect.  Ah!  that  fatal  campaign  in  Russia. 
For  two  hours  we  sat  here  and  I  begged  him  not  to 
attempt  it — not  to  tempt  the  gods  too  much.  That 
59 


60  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

was  our  last  interview  but  one.  He  rose  and  kissed 
my  hand  and  left  me  asking  me  to  wish  him  good 
luck!  And  then  he  returned — this  time  a  fugitive, 
and,  as  he  stood  there,  "Josephine,"  he  said,  "I 
have  been  as  fortunate  as  ever  man  on  the  face  of 
this  earth.  But  in  this  hour  of  defeat,  when  a 
storm  is  gathering  over  my  head,  I  have  not,  in 
this  wide  World,  anyone  but  you  in  whom  I  can 
safely  confide."  And  yes!  "My  marriage  to 
Maria  Louisa,"  he  said,  "was  a  pit  covered  with 
roses!"  (She  lifts  a  miniature  of  Napoleon  from 
her  bosom  and  kisses  it  tearfully)  Hortense!  Hor- 
tense!  (When  Hortense  comes  and  sits  beside  her) 
Read  to  me  from  Napoleon's  last  letter  from 
Brienne — that  particular  passage  at  the  end! 

Hortense.  (takes  the  bundle  of  letters  from 
the  settle  beside  Josephine  and  reads)  This  is  the 
letter  you  mean.  "On  beholding  those  scenes  where 
I  had  first  passed  my  boyhood,  and  comparing  my 
peaceful  condition  then  with  the  agitation  and  ter- 
rors which  I  now  experience,  I  several  times  said, 
in  my  own  mind,  I  have  sought  to  meet  death  in 
many  conflicts;  I  can  no  longer  fear  it.  To  me 
death  would  now  be  a  blessing.  But  I  would  once 
more  see  my  Josephine." 

Josephine,  (much  affected)  Ah!  Bonaparte! 
You  are  not  ungrateful ! 

[Enter  page  ushering  a  courier.  Josephine  takes 
letter  and  hands  it  to  Hortense  with  the  request 
"Open  it,  Hortense!"  She  then  takes  both  the 
hands  of  the  courier  in  her  own  and  a  moment  later 
she  takes  a  valuable  ring  from  her  finger  and  gives 
it  to  him  as  a  reward  for  bringing  her  letter  safely. 
Then  she  takes  the  letter  from  Hortense  and  wav- 


ACT  V  61 

ing  the  courier  to  be  seated  at  a  table  R.  she  reads 
the  letter  with  much  emotion.~\  "Fontainebleau, 
April  1 6,  1 8 14.  Dear  Josephine, — /  wrote  to  you 
on  the  8th  of  the  month,  but  perhaps  you  have  not 
received  my  letter.  Hostilities  still  continued,  and 
possibly  it  may  have  been  intercepted.  At  present, 
the  communication  must  be  re-established.  I  have 
formed  my  resolution.  I  have  no  doubt  that  this 
letter  will  reach  you.  I  will  not  repeat  what  I  said 
to  you — Then  I  lamented  my  situation;  now  I  con- 
gratulate myself  upon  it.  My  head  and  spirit  are 
free  from  an  enormous  weight.  My  fall  is  great, 
but  it  may,  as  men  say,  prove  useful.  In  my  re- 
treat I  shall  substitute  the  pen  for  the  sword.  The 
history  of  my  reign  will  be  curious.  The  world 
has  yet  seen  me  only  in  profile.  I  shall  show  myself 
in  full.  How  many  things  have  I  to  disclose!  How 
many  are  the  men  of  whom  a  false  estimate  is  enter- 
tained! I  have  heaped  benefits  upon  millions  of 
wretches.  What  have  they  done  in  the  end  for  me! 
They  have  all  betrayed  me — yes  all.  I  except  from 
this  number  the  good  Eugene,  so  worthy  of  you  and 
me.  Adieu!  my  dear  Josephine.  Be  resigned  as  I 
am,  and  never  forget  him  who  never  forgot  and 
never  will  forget  you.  Farewell,  Josephine,  Na- 
poleon. P.  S.  I  expect  to  hear  from  you  at  Elba. 
I  am  not  well."  Hortense!  I  must  not  remain 
here! 

Hortense.     Why  not,  mother? 

Josephine.  My  presence  is  necessary  to  the 
Emperor. 

Hortense.  That  is  his  wife's  duty.  Maria 
Louise !     Remember ! 

Josephine.     The   duty   is   indeed   his  wife's — 


62  PUPPETS  OF  FATE 

more  Maria  Louisa's  than  mine,  but  the  Emperor 
is  alone — forsaken!  I,  at  least,  will  not  abandon 
him.  I  might  be  dispensed  with  while  he  was 
happy;  now  I  am  sure  he  expects  me.  {turning  to 
courier)  You  will  remain  here  until  intelligence  be 
received  from  the  allied  sovereigns.  They  will  re- 
spect her  who  was  the  wife  of  Napoleon. 

[Doors  thrown  wide  open  and  Emperor  Alex- 
ander of  Russia  announced.  Josephine  and  Hor- 
tense  kneel.  He  lifts  them  gracefully  to  their  feet. 
Exit  Courier.] 

Alexander.  You  are  safe.  My  guard  will 
protect  you.  Let  me  tell  you  that  I  have  loved 
Napoleon  so  dearly  that  even  the  position  of  hos- 
tility which  policy  compels  me  to  assume  cannot 
banish  from  my  heart  friendship  for  the  hero  who 
so  long  ruled  Europe.  Madame,  I  burned  with 
the  desire  of  beholding  you.  Since  I  entered  France, 
I  have  never  heard  your  name  pronounced  but  with 
benedictions.  In  the  cottage  and  in  the  palace,  I 
have  collected  accounts  of  your  angelic  goodness, 
and  I  do  myself  a  pleasure  in  thus  presenting  to 
your  majesty  the  universal  homage  of  which  I  am 
the  bearer. 

Josephine.  I  thank  Your  Majesty.  Sire,  I 
have  always  desired  the  happiness  of  France.  I 
did  all  in  my  power  to  contribute  to  it;  and  I  can 
say  with  truth  that  the  first  wife  of  Napoleon  never 
caused  a  single  tear  to  flow! 

Sound  of  herald  announcing  something  not  yet 
distinguishable. 

Josephine.  What  is  that  herald  saying?  What 
is  that  herald  saying! 

Announced:      THE     EMPRESS     MARIA 


ACT  V  63 

LOUISA  DECLINES  TO  FOLLOW  THE 
EMPEROR,  NAPOLEON  THE  GREAT,  IN- 
TO EXILE  1 

Alexander.  And  she  had  permission  of  the  al- 
lies to  accompany  him ! 

Hortense.  Oh,  God!  Wonderful  are  thy 
ways! 

Alexander,  (to  Josephine  who  is  swaying) 
Madam,  you  are  ill ! 

Josephine,  (with  hand  on  heart)  Yes,  Sire, 
I  am  bleeding  here!  (she  falls)  Isle  of  Elba! 
Napoleon!     Maria  Louisa! 

CURTAIN 


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